Sarah's Secret (6 page)

‘I wouldn’t count on it.’ Sarah looked away. ‘I enjoy your company, but that’s as far as it goes, Jake.’

He put a finger under her chin and brought her round to look at him, the hard planes of his face softened a little. ‘Is it a case of once bitten, twice shy, Sarah?’

She nodded mutely, taking refuge in an explanation he could accept.

Jake took her hand in a firm, warm clasp. ‘I still want to spend time with you, Sarah.’

‘I want that, too,’ she assured him.

He relaxed visibly. ‘So what are you doing tonight?’

‘Nothing much.’

The brooding look disappeared, replaced by the sudden familiar smile which breached every defence she possessed. ‘There’s a Clint Eastwood film on at the Regal. If I promise—Scouts’ honour—just to hold your hand, will you come?’

Sarah’s smile matched Jake’s, her dark mood suddenly vanished. ‘An offer I can’t resist. Will you throw in popcorn?’

‘Ice-cream, too, if you’re good.’

‘Done!’

They went to the cinema together that night, and held hands, just as Jake had promised. And when he drove Sarah home he gave her a brief goodnight kiss in the car, then saw her to her door. He took her to dinner at the Chesterton the following evening, and to the theatre later in the week to see the local repertory company tackling Ibsen. But when Jake brought her home after the play the brooding look reappeared when they arrived in Campden Road.

‘I suppose that’s it until next week, then?’

‘Afraid so.’ Sarah chuckled. ‘If I live that long! Tomorrow Davy’s bringing Polly home with her for the weekend. After which we take Polly back and join the
Rogers family for Sunday lunch.’ She smiled at him. ‘I’m really looking forward to that.’

‘Will you be up to seeing me on Sunday evening afterwards?’

‘Probably not,’ she said with regret. ‘I may just want to crawl into bed.’

Jake frowned. ‘Which means Wednesday before I see you again. I’m away on Monday, and I’ll be tied up until late on Tuesday evening.’

Sarah eyed him in dismay. ‘And Wednesday’s out for me. I forgot to tell you. I’m going away for a couple of days next week.’

‘You
forgot
?’ he repeated wrathfully. ‘Where are you going?’

She hesitated. ‘Jake. It’s early. Want some coffee?’

His eyes gleamed. ‘You’re asking me in?’

‘Yes. Are you coming?’

‘What do you think?’ Jake slid out of the car at top speed, sprinted round it to let her out, then hustled her across the pavement to her door.

‘Why the rush?’ demanded Sarah, laughing as she put her key in the lock.

‘In case you change your mind on the way!’

Margaret Parker emerged from the kitchen as Jake hurried Sarah into the hall.

‘Hello, Grandma,’ said Sarah blithely. ‘This is Jake Hogan. Jake, meet my grandmother, Margaret Parker.’

‘Good evening, Mr Hogan,’ said Margaret formally.

Jake smiled and held out his hand. ‘How do you do, Mrs Parker?’

Margaret took the hand briefly, and even managed a smile. ‘How was
A Doll’s House
?’

‘The understudy had to go on as Nora, and she just
wasn’t up to it,’ said Sarah, making a face. ‘Good thing you decided to give it a miss this week.’

‘I’m no Ibsen fan. By the way, I’m afraid you caught me raiding your kitchen, Sarah. I was out of coffee.’

‘Come and have some with us,’ offered Sarah, but Margaret declined politely, told Jake she’d been pleased to meet him, then took herself back up to her own quarters.

‘I see where you get the tortoiseshell eyes,’ commented Jake, watching Sarah as she put out cups.

‘My mother had them, too. The distaff genes dominate the looks in my family.’ Thank God, thought Sarah, as they went into the sitting room.

‘Not a night for sitting outside,’ she said with regret. ‘Last week it was too hot to breathe; this week it’s cold enough for autumn.’

‘Never mind our famous climate,’ said Jake, putting the tray down. ‘Tell me where you’re going next week.’

‘To a wedding.’

‘Whose?’

‘Old college friend.’ She shrugged. ‘I must make the effort to go, because Nick’s a good friend. And some of my old college crowd will be there—’

‘Do I hear a but?’ asked Jake.

Sarah nodded. ‘The wedding’s midweek, which means no problem with Davy, and I had time owing to me at work—I even bought a suitable dress the other day.’

Jake eyed her face as she poured coffee. ‘So what’s the snag?’

‘Pretty feeble, really.’ She pulled a face. ‘I’ll be the only one on my own. The others come in pairs.’

‘And you mind that?’

‘I do, rather. At this kind of wedding in the past I
always had Nick for company. But this time he’s the bridegroom, so I’ll be a spare wheel.’

‘Does your invitation include a partner?’

‘Yes.’ She smiled wryly. ‘Nick put a note with the invitation, telling me to bring my current man with me.’

Jake gave her one of the direct looks she was coming to know. ‘Then why don’t you?’

Sarah’s eyes widened. ‘Are you saying
you
would come with me?’

‘Remember I told you I’m strictly a one at a time kind of guy?’ said Jake elliptically.

‘Yes. Why?’

‘I assume you function on the same principle?’

‘Of course I do.’

‘Then as far as I’m concerned we’re a couple.’ He gave her a mocking little bow. ‘If you want a partner for the occasion, I’m yours. I even own a morning coat.’

Sarah gazed at him, her mind working overtime. The offer was tempting. Very tempting. ‘I’m staying overnight,’ she warned.

‘I’ll book a room at the same hotel, then.’

‘But can you just take off like that—from Pentiles, I mean?’

‘The firm won’t grind to a halt if I’m away for a day or two,’ he said, then gave her a smile tinged with arrogance. ‘I
am
Pentiles, remember. I take time off when I want.’

Sarah frowned. ‘If you do come with me,’ she began, choosing her words with care, ‘my friends will probably read more into it than you’d like.’

‘Than
you’d
like,’ he corrected. ‘I don’t see a problem. Just introduce me as a friend.’

‘The female section of the group will take one look at you and flatly refuse to believe that!’

Jake frowned. ‘Why?’

‘You know perfectly well why,’ she retorted irritably. One look at those dark-rimmed blue eyes and gold-streaked hair, plus the physique that went with them, and she’d probably be beating girlfriends off with a stick.

‘But it’s true. I am your friend,’ he pointed out. ‘Not entirely by choice, on my part, I admit. I’d like a closer relationship. Much closer. But I know damn well I must toe the line or you’ll send me packing.’ His eyes glittered with sudden heat. ‘Sometimes I can’t believe I’ve been tamed so easily.’

Sarah gave him a fulminating look. Jake Hogan might be lounging at ease on her sofa, but with that particular light in his eye he looked about as tame as the average free-range lion.

‘If you do come to the wedding—’ she began, but he held up a hand.

‘I
am
coming. I like weddings.’

‘You must be the only man I know who does!’

‘As I keep telling you, I’m not the average male,’ he reminded her affably. ‘And on the subject of weddings I speak from experience, having survived the nuptials of two sisters and several cousins, featured as best man at two of them, and still lived to tell the tale.’

Against her will Sarah began to laugh. ‘Oh, all right. Then thank you, Jake. You win.’

‘I always do.’ He grinned at her. ‘So where’s the wedding?’

Sarah wasn’t in the least surprised to learn that Jake knew the area she mentioned. She listened, amused, while he spoke at persuasive length, first to the receptionist at the Greenacres Hotel in Norfolk, then to the manager, turning on the charm to an outrageous degree before giving his credit card details to secure a room.

‘Only one in the place, due to the wedding. The manager was reluctant at first to let me have it, because it’s a brand-new renovation and isn’t quite finished. But I persuaded her to have it ready by the time I need it,’ he said afterwards, and gave Sarah a smile of such blatant triumph she laughed in his face.

‘You were shameless. I suppose a technique like that wins for you every time,’ she said severely, but he shook his head, sighing.

‘Not quite. If I thought it did I’d try it with you, Sarah.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Time I was off.’

‘Look, Jake, if you change your mind,’ she said awkwardly. ‘About the wedding, I mean, please feel free to do so.’

Jake got up, pulled her to her feet and took her by the shoulders, his eyes utterly serious. ‘I won’t change my mind. If it makes life easier for you to have a partner at this wedding I’ll be there for you, Sarah. We’re friends, remember. That’s what friends are for.’

Impulsively she reached up to kiss his cheek. ‘Thank you, Jake.’

He stepped back, a pulse throbbing visibly at the corner of his mouth. ‘Don’t mention it,’ he said huskily. ‘Goodnight, Sarah.’

She walked with him to the door and held up her face for their customary friendly kiss, but he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with such heat and hunger she was speechless when he let her go.

‘I’ll ring you.’ He smiled crookedly into her dazed eyes, then went out to the car and to her intense disappointment drove off, with no mention of meeting again before their trip to Norfolk.

S
ARAH
was too busy to miss Jake over the weekend. At least, not as much as she’d expected. From the moment she collected Davy and Polly from school life was so hectic her only respite was in bed. There was a picnic tea in the garden when they got home on the Friday afternoon, and a trip to McDonald’s later. Once the children were in bed in Davy’s room Sarah finished off the work she’d brought home, then fell into bed herself to get some rest in preparation for next day.

The two little girls were up early, Davy eager to introduce the excited Polly to their Saturday programme of swimming, lunch, and cinema. After the film Sarah drove them home to play in the garden before supper, then finished off the day with a round of board games. Margaret surprised Sarah no end by joining in to make up a four.

‘Thank you,’ said Sarah gratefully, after she’d packed the lively pair off to bed. ‘I thought you were going out tonight.’

‘I had lunch with Barbara today, instead of our usual supper. We went over arrangements for the Tuscany trip.’ Margaret eyed her granddaughter searchingly. ‘Sarah, purely as a matter of interest, how does Jake Hogan feel about your no-weekend rule?’

‘If he objects he’s not saying so. Besides, I laid my cards on the table about Davy from the first. Most of them, anyway,’ she added with a sigh, then eyed her
grandmother warily. ‘By the way, Jake’s going to Nick’s wedding with me.’

‘Really?’
Dark eyebrows shot to meet the hair that was still as brown as Sarah’s under its frosting of silver. ‘In what capacity, exactly?’

‘As my friend.’

Margaret said nothing for a moment, then gave Sarah a searching look. ‘Is that all he is?’

‘Of course.’ Sarah met the look head-on. ‘That’s all he can be.’

Sunday morning was fine, with a forecast promising sunshine which augured well for the Rogers’ barbecue. After packing Davy’s bag for the school week, Sarah wandered round the garden in her dressing gown for a while to gauge the temperature, then went into her room to change into a raspberry linen skirt. She added a plain white shirt, rolled the sleeves to just below her elbows, then went to collect the girls.

‘Ready for the off?’ said Margaret, on her way downstairs to say goodbye to Davy.

‘Yes. Though I’m not sure about the skirt. I’m not exactly up on what the well-dressed barbecue guest is wearing this season.’ Sarah made a face. ‘I’ll feel very silly if everyone else is in jeans.’

But when she delivered Polly to her parents Sarah was relieved to find that only Don was in jeans. Alison was wearing a strappy cotton dress.

‘Have you been good?’ Alison asked, hugging her daughter, who at top speed proceeded to itemise all the fab things she’d done in Pennington, then rushed Davy into the garden to play.

‘I hope you’re not worn out, Sarah,’ said Don. ‘Sit down, have a drink, and relax.’

Sarah took the reclining chair he offered, and assured her hosts that Polly had been no trouble at all over the weekend. ‘As you said, it’s easier with two. Though I’m afraid they didn’t get to sleep very early.’

‘They will tonight, back in school,’ said Alison comfortably. ‘In the meantime thank heavens we’re lucky with the weather. Let’s just sit for a minute and enjoy the sun. The others aren’t due for a while.’

Sarah found it very pleasant to relax for a while in the Rogers’ friendly company. When the guests arrived she was introduced to Ned and Helen Fenwick from next door, followed by three more couples from the neighbourhood, and found she was quickly absorbed into the friendly, animated group. When some of the men gave Don a hand with the chicken and steaks he was cooking, or topped up drinks, Alison enlisted Sarah’s help in transferring the rest of the food from the house to the trestle table laid under the shade of the sheltering fruit trees.

Glad to be of use, and well aware that Alison’s plea for help was to make her feel part of the scene, Sarah hurried to and fro with salads and relishes and baskets of bread. When everything was ready she ducked into the cloakroom to tidy up, then heard the doorbell ring and went out into the hall to let in a belated guest. And stared, speechless, at the sight of Jake Hogan, grinning at her in outrageous triumph, dressed in faded jeans and a shirt which matched his eyes.

‘Jake!’ called Alison, coming into the hall. ‘Long time no see. Hurry up, you’re late. Have you met Sarah Tracy?’

‘I certainly have,’ he said, thrusting a bag of bottles into Alison’s arms before kissing her on both cheeks. ‘How are you, Ally?’

‘A lot older than when I saw you last,’ she said, laughing. ‘Thank you for these, you extravagant man. Come and have something to drink, then we can eat. Don’s been hovering over that barbecue so long he must be medium rare himself by now.’

When Alison hurried back to her guests Jake took Sarah’s arm to delay her. ‘Are you glad to see me?’

She eyed him accusingly. ‘You didn’t tell me you were coming.’

‘Don didn’t invite me until Friday.’

‘Rather a coincidence!’

‘Not exactly. I just made it my business to contact Don over the phone on Friday. I mentioned I hadn’t seen Alison for ages, and that was it.’

Sarah gave him what was meant to be a severe look. ‘You didn’t think to give me a ring and tell me?’

‘I wanted to surprise you.’ Jake took her hand. ‘Tell me you’re pleased, Sarah.’

‘I am,’ she said, relenting. ‘Very pleased.’

‘Good.’ He gave her the eye-crinkling smile which turned her bones to jelly. ‘Where’s Davy?’

‘Out in the garden with Polly.’

‘Will she object to my presence?’

‘She’s having too good a time to object to anything, so come on; we’d better join the others.’

Sarah had been enjoying herself well enough up to that point, but now Jake Hogan was one of the guests her party spirit soared to the point of euphoria. He accepted a beer and did the round of introductions, then perched himself on the footrest of Sarah’s recliner.

When Helen Fenwick asked if anyone had been to the Playhouse that week Jake surprised Alison by saying that he’d taken Sarah there.

‘I didn’t know you two knew each other so well,’ she said, surprised.

‘Didn’t you?’ said Jake blandly. ‘How’s Polly?’

‘Getting filthy in the garden with Sarah’s little girl—oh, heavens, what now?’ Alison jumped up in alarm as her daughter came tearing across the lawn in distress.

‘Davy’s stuck up a tree, Sarah, and can’t get down,’ Polly wailed.

In one fluent move Jake leapt up, pulled Sarah to her feet, and ran with her after Polly.

‘You see to the meat, darling.’ Don tossed his utensils to Alison, and took off after the others at top speed. ‘Is she in one of the oak trees, Polly?’ he panted, catching up with his daughter.

‘Yes, Daddy. And she’s
bleeding
!’

Sarah blenched when they found Davy high above the ground, clinging to a branch of one of the trees edging the Rogers’ property.

‘Hi, Davy,’ said Jake breathlessly as they reached her. ‘How did you get up there?’

Davy peered down at him in surprise. ‘Hello, Mr Hogan,’ she shouted, then her voice quavered. ‘It was easy-peasy getting up, but now I’m stuck. I can’t get down.’

‘Did you hurt yourself?’ called Sarah, determinedly calm.

‘Only a bit. I scraped my knee.’

Don Rogers, who was a lot heavier than Jake, opted to station himself at the foot of the tree as catcher, leaving Jake to work his way up steadily from branch to branch. When Jake reached a fork in the tree below the frightened child he smiled at her in reassurance and stretched up an arm. ‘Right then, Davy. Give me your hand.’

‘I can’t let go,’ she gasped.

‘Yes, you can, sweetheart. Just one hand. You can still hang on with the other.’

Sarah watched, heart in her throat, while Davy, apparently reassured by something in the smiling blue eyes trained on hers, fearfully detached one hand and put it into Jake’s.

‘Good girl!’ Don called.

‘Now, lean down a little bit and put the other one round my neck,’ instructed Jake.

Polly clutched Sarah’s hand as with agonising slowness Davy detached her hand and slid her arm round Jake’s neck to let him take her weight.

‘Well done,’ he said, holding her securely. ‘Now we’re going to climb down a bit.’

‘And then Jake is going to hand you down to me,’ called Don, smiling up at Davy. ‘Just like pass the parcel.’

‘OK,’ she said bravely, and clung to Jake like a limpet while he made it down to a secure foothold before lowering her into the waiting arms below.

‘Here’s Mummy to inspect your wounds,’ said Don, and gave Davy a kiss. ‘And now I must get back to my labours or our lunch will be cinders.’

Polly rushed to inspect the wound, but Davy assured her airily that it was just a scratch, then to Sarah’s pride turned to Jake with a beaming smile of gratitude. ‘Thank you very much for getting me down, Mr Hogan.’

He grinned as he ruffled her hair. ‘Any time, Davy. Glad to be of service.’

‘Now, let’s go and tell Alison you’re in one piece and apologise for holding up lunch,’ said Sarah.

Later she took the freshly scrubbed girls to join the
others at the long trestle table, and found Don taking sly pleasure in lauding Jake as the hero of the hour.

‘Maidens in distress a specialty,’ Jake said flippantly.

‘All ages?’ called Alison from the foot of the table, to general laughter.

‘Absolutely,’ he said with a grin, holding Sarah’s chair for her.

With Davy safe and sound Sarah settled down to enjoy the party. The food was delicious, and tasted even better for being eaten in the open air in convivial company, and to add to her pleasure Davy, seated the other side of Jake, spent most of the meal chattering happily to him.

The company gathered round the table enjoyed themselves so much that when people finally began to leave it was almost time for Davy and Polly to go back to school.

‘I’ll take Polly with us,’ offered Sarah, as Alison went inside with her to collect her child’s belongings together. ‘I’m sure you two could do with a breather after working so hard over lunch.’

‘Are you sure?’ said Alison, obviously tempted.

‘It seems pretty pointless for both of us to make the same journey.’

‘Or we could take Davy with us?’

‘I’d rather do that myself, and explain to her house mother that she had a bit of a fright up the tree.’ Sarah smiled sheepishly. ‘I’m fussing, I know—’

‘Of course you’re not fussing,’ said Alison, and gave Sarah a knowing little smile. ‘By the way, I didn’t know Jake Hogan was a friend of yours.’

‘Small world,’ said Sarah casually. ‘Now, we’d better get those two out of the bath.’

When the two girls ran downstairs, transformed from
grubby hoydens into neat little schoolgirls, Jake was still chatting in the garden with Don.

‘Hey, look at you two,’ he said, jumping up. ‘Who waved a magic wand?’

Alison laughed, and looked at her watch. ‘There’s time, yet, Sarah. Have some tea before you go. And you two sit quietly and don’t get dirty, please.’

Sarah was only too pleased to stay on a while, but deep down couldn’t help feeling wistful. To the onlooker the four of them looked so much like two conventional couples with a child apiece she was pierced with a stab of longing for the impossible.

After Alison took Don into the house with her, apparently in need of his help to make a pot of tea, Jake moved his chair closer to Sarah’s.

‘Have you recovered from the drama with Davy?’ he asked quietly.

‘I’m used to it. She has a real thing about trees, but she never learns. At one time or another she’s been stuck up every one of ours in the garden at Campden Road,’ Sarah told him, her eyes on the girls as they sat on a rug on the grass, playing some absorbing private game.

‘But other than that you’ve had a good time today?’

Sarah turned to look at him, her eyes luminous. ‘Better than good. I’ve never been to anything like this before.’

Jake frowned in surprise. ‘Why not?’

‘It doesn’t take rocket science to work that one out, Jake.’ She shrugged. ‘All the people here today were couples.’

‘You don’t get invited to parties?’

‘Some. Colleagues’ birthdays, Christmas drinks with the families of the men I work for, the odd charity bash. Which is how I met Brian. But no family affairs like
this.’ Sarah straightened in her chair. ‘I’m whingeing. Sorry.’

‘Don asked if we were seeing each other,’ said Jake casually.

Sarah frowned. ‘What did you say?’

‘The truth. Because we are seeing each other. Literally.’ He heaved a dramatic sigh. ‘My ego wasn’t up to admitting that ours was a no-kisses type of romance.’

She flushed. ‘I wouldn’t say no kisses at all.’

‘Next best thing,’ he whispered, as Don came back hefting a tray.

Much as Sarah would have liked the day to go for ever, shortly afterwards it was time to see her young passengers into the car and say her goodbyes. ‘We’ve had such a good time,’ she told her hosts.

‘Come again soon,’ said Don genially, and cocked an eyebrow at Jake. ‘Both of you.’

‘Dinner next time,’ said Alison, nodding. ‘Then we’ll have more time to talk.’

‘I’ll ring you, Sarah,’ said Jake, and she gave him a quick, embarrassed smile, conscious of the interest from the other two. Jake popped his head inside the open window at the back of the car. ‘Mind you keep out of trees, Davy. You too, Polly.’

The giggling children promised, waved at Alison and Don, and Sarah drove off to a chorus of goodbyes. When she got to Roedale Sarah had a quick word with the house mother to give the reason for Davy’s grazed knee, gave both girls a hug and drove back to Pennington, anticlimax creeping up on her, stronger with every mile. Her Sunday evening blues were back in force. But not for the usual reason.

When she’d parked the car in the garage at the bottom
of the garden, Sarah wandered aimlessly up the path, rounded the shrubbery and felt a leap of unadulterated joy at the sight of Jake sitting at the patio table, reading the Sunday papers.

He jumped up as she approached, smiling rather warily. ‘Mrs Parker let me in. Do you mind?’